We Put Shay Mitchell's Luggage Brand, Béis, Through the Wringer — Here's Our Verdict

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Between hectic airport lines, crowded public transit and dreaded delays, traveling is already stressful enough. Drab, poorly made luggage should be the last of your concerns. Enter Béis, actress Shay Mitchell's travel brand touted as one of the Internet's favorite places to shop functional and stylish suitcases — at equally attractive prices.

For the uninitiated, Béis is a luggage brand that rolled onto the scene with hard-shell suitcase sets and weekender bags dressed in monochromatic schemes. The brand prides itself on incorporating thoughtful touches. Business travelers? A separate laptop-sized compartment. Overpackers? A handle that indicates the bag's weight.

There's no denying its stunning designs, but we had to see for ourselves just how practical their offerings were. So, I recruited the best-selling Front Pocket Carry-On Roller as my travel companion from Brooklyn, New York, to Boston, Massachusetts. I also compared notes with our Good Housekeeping Institute pros who regularly perform rigorous tests on suitcases to determine which ones best suit different needs. We tapped Senior Textiles Analyst Emma Seymour for her expertise on all things Béis, including the coveted Carry-On Roller.

Read on for our complete Béis luggage review, and get answers to the frequently asked questions about the celebrity-owned luggage brand.

The bottom line: Béis luggage is an excellent investment for style-conscious, casual travelers — but frequent flyers willing to splurge may want a more durable option.

What is Béis?

Founded in 2018, Béis (pronounced "base") made waves for its color-coordinated luggage, including a creamy Beige that became the brand's signature and a bubblegum Atlas Pink that perpetually sells out. TikTok helped propel the brand to viral fame thanks to hearty endorsements of the Weekender Bag, while luggage tags, tote bags and toiletry cases accompany its popular luggage.

That lineup includes four styles: a Carry-On Roller and a Front Pocket Carry-On, plus a medium-sized 26-inch Check-In Roller and a large-sized 28-inch Check-In Roller. Each suitcase is outfitted with a hard polycarbonate shell and 360-degree spinner wheels. But unlike other brands, Béis incorporates smart details like a retractable bag strap, a built-in weight indicator and a padded trolley handle.

As a frequent traveler herself, Mitchell said she thought about features she wished her old suitcases had. "I wanted to add a feature to the luggage to make it easy and simple," she told Bustle about the weight limit indicator. "It goes to one of the biggest goals for all of our products: Trying to make travel easier for people so they do it more."

Our honest Béis luggage review

Durability

Like other GH Institute-tested luggage such as Monos and Away, Béis suitcases feature a hard polycarbonate shell. Tougher than plastic and lighter than aluminum, polycarbonate suitcases generally earn high marks in our Lab tests — and Béis's carry-ons are no exception.

When traveling with the front-pocketed iteration, all my belongings (including my laptop, glass perfume bottles and souvenirs) remained perfectly intact throughout a bumpy ride in the luggage section of a Peter Pan bus. The padded front pocket cushioned my 16-inch MacBook during subway and train rides. I noticed some minor scuffs forming on the exterior. However, the Béis carry-on endured the excursion with no bumps or dents.

Our Lab expert, Emma Seymour, also performed several tests on the Carry-On Roller (sans front pocket) to determine how it may hold up over years of traveling. She filled the suitcase and dropped it repeatedly at a three-foot height from different angles. Similar to my own experience, the Béis carry-on didn't dent during any of the drop tests, though we did notice a few scuffs developing.

Seymour tested the suitcase's scratch resistance in the Textiles Lab, and she found that it scratched easily, especially around the edges by the zippers and handles. That's likely due to the suitcase's matte, textured exterior, which is more prone to scratches than shiny finishes, she says. We recommend buffing out scuffs with a sponge, like the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Ease of Use

Whether you're traveling by subway, train or bus, the Béis Carry-On maneuvers like a dream. Its 360-degree spinner wheels glided smoothly across a variety of surfaces despite my heavy duffle strapped atop. Another one of my favorite features is the cushioned, telescoping handle. The squishy padding made rolling the suitcase through crowds far more comfortable, and it added a luxe touch compared to more expensive suitcases I've tried.

All Béis suitcases also come with a built-in scale, which Seymour appreciated when she had to check in her bag at the airport. Simply lift the suitcase by its side handle, and the discreet weight indicator window will turn red if your bag is over 50 pounds.

Interior

Béis makes light work out of packing. Using the carry-on with a front pocket, I had more than enough room to stash essentials for a long weekend — though, strategic packers (armed with handy packing cubes) could probably fit a couple of weeks' worth of clothing. I fit everything from winter clothing and a pair of boots to a Béis toiletry bag and a full-sized hair dryer.

Compared to the Monos Carry-On Pro (39.9L) or the Away Carry-On (39.8l), the Béis Front Pocket Carry-On offers a whopping 47L interior — all while staying within airline regulation-approved dimensions. Those who need a smidge more space can opt for the classic Béis Carry-On that expands from 49L to 66L of packing space. However, it's important to note that this model exceeds some airline regulations, meaning you may be asked to check it on smaller planes.

The Front Pocket Carry-On opens butterfly style, with a zippered compartment on one side and a main compartment on the other. Inside the zippered side, there are two additional pockets built in — one frosted and one opaque — for holding toiletries, undergarments, chargers and more. A fabric divider keeps items organized while the adjustable compression straps give optimal packing room and help prevent items from shifting.

Just be careful not to overstuff the zipper pockets; otherwise, it can be difficult to close the bag. An added perk I loved: All Béis suitcases come with drawstring bags for dirty laundry or shoes.

Is Béis luggage worth it?

For casual travelers, yes! Stylish and affordable, Béis luggage best suits those who only travel a handful of times per year or those who don't mind treating their suitcases with a bit more TLC.

During both personal use and Lab drop testing, the carry-ons were easily scuffed. Frequent flyers who need a suitcase to last them through years of continuous use may want to invest extra money in workhorse suitcases like Samsonite or TravelPro. I also found the Béis slightly harder to zip up than other suitcases when fully packed.

What it lacks in durability, Béis makes up for with premium details: an ergonomic telescoping handle, a built-in weight indicator, a bag strap and a handy TSA lock system. Weighing in at 8.6 lbs, it's slightly heavier than Monos or Away, but as an overpacker, I find that added storage a fair trade-off.

Aesthetics aside — luggage is a big investment at the end of the day. We appreciate that Béis offers some of the most attractive luggage we've tried while ringing in slightly less expensive than its competitors at $218 to $248 for a carry-on.

More of Béis luggage to consider

Béis shot to viral fame for its Weekender Bag — available in standard and mini sizes. Those on TikTok loved its sleek silhouette and clever details like a separate shoe compartment and a padded laptop sleeve. It also helped re-popularize the concept of weekender bags. Impressed by its airline-compatible dimensions and under-$100 price tag, we dubbed the Mini Weekender the most stylish weekender bag. The Béis Work Tote also earned nods from the GH Institute as the most fashionable work bag.

If you prefer a more classic style, The BÉISics Duffle is a great alternative. Similarly, it features a handy trolley strap that secures your bag on top of your suitcase — a lifesaver during long commutes. The Dopp Kit was larger than I expected, conveniently designed with two separate compartments for my makeup and skincare. I had a difficult time getting it to lay flat in my carry-on suitcase when packed to the brim, but it fit all the products I needed for my trip with room to spare. Plus, it's under $50.

The Mini Weekender

The Work Tote

BÉISics Duffle

The Dopp Kit

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